Facing the tightening vines, Naruto Uzumaki gave a cold snort. Nine-Tails Chakra erupted from him, and with a thunderous crash, the massive tree shattered completely. A flash of golden light carried him past Danzo's Shapeshifting Clone.
Danzo glanced back in disbelief, thinking to himself, He's even stronger than he was back then.
With that thought, his chakra vanished completely, and he too transformed into an ordinary ninja before falling to the ground.
"Good. Now head for their base immediately." Naruto waved his hand, dismissing his golden Nine-Tails Chakra Mode as he took off into the distance. The others hurried after him.
Inside Akatsuki's gloomy base, Kisame and Danzo opened their eyes simultaneously as the others turned to look at them.
"Sorry, we failed." Kisame grinned, his already terrifying face looking even more horrifying.
As Deidara formed hand seals, he snorted. "You only lasted a minute and a half. What an 'impressive' record."
Unfazed by the jab, Kisame shrugged. "If you're not convinced, go ahead and try. That Nine-Tails brat will be here soon. I'm counting on you to take him out, Deidara."
Deidara instantly choked with anger and opened his mouth to curse back, but Pain's stern voice rang out. "Quiet, you two."
Powerful chakra burst from his body, and the entire cavern seemed to sink under an invisible weight. Deidara and Kisame's words caught in their throats, unable to come out.
The emotionless Rinnegan stared at Gaara. In Amegakure, Nagato sighed as his true body slowly formed hand seals.
In an instant, even vaster chakra was transmitted into the chakra phantom. The Deva Path's afterimage flickered, seeming to blur before gradually returning to normal.
But anyone paying close attention would have noticed a subtle change in the phantom standing in the Deva Path's position. Fortunately, no one had any